Horseracing
Heaps of winnings
O'er palms and tables
Runs and races of gaiting history and innings
Saddles, spectacles of magical stables
Entries of dreamed laps
Rallies and floats with swirling caps
All cheerings, tears and frowns
Chanting earrings, fears and clowns
In every race of dreamed distance
Never give up on spurred, steaming grounds
Go, run and win with hope and bounds!
(Prosebite)
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Horseracing, a dream of many horses that captures the hearts of many people. Horses and people come together to compete in the oval. One contest to participate and strive -- a display of boldness and will to win.
For over a century, horseracing is one of the most prestigious games and one sport for both jockeys and horses to bring out the best in them.
One story out of the many great history of horses, jockeys, owners, trainers and breeders is the life and memory of a male caretaker (groom) whose dream is to make all horses he feeds to win at least one race. "Z" is the male caretaker's name. He is a feeder of horses and came from a family of slaves centuries ago.
Z ran away from home when he was only five and was found by a rich couple while he was sleeping on a park bench one early morn. He was offered to stay in the couple's house for free. His trustworthiness earned him the respect of the couple. The couple died together in a plane crash twelve years later since he was welcomed in the couple's abode.
At seventeen, all five daughters of the deceased couple are now the ones being served by Z as the house caretaker. All daughters as heirs have steeds, mares and young horses housed in a big stable about ten miles away from the house. And these horses are well-taken care of by Z. Z was advised to live and stay in the big stable where the horses are kept because the house where he usually stays will be sold very soon after the couple's demise. He agreed and pledged his loyalty to the couple's well-loved heirs.
All five heirs are risk takers in life. They have all graduated in college now, but want more in life other than just money. One exception is the youngest of the five whose attitude is a little different from most. She said that respect is not all about money or fame because it is "earned." Respect is a lifetime commitment to one's self and to others. Money and power are like "twins" that project fame or notoriety. Money can be inherited, if not worked for. Fame is not power if there's no substance in it.
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Z is communicating with horses everyday. He talks to all horses like humans and treat them like real humans. Mimes and gestures of horses are seen and felt by Z regularly so he knows the character of each one of them. He sings out loud, singing all his favorite songs. He plays his portable cd-cassette player too with instrumental songs for the horses to hear. Horses have different reactions from what they hear and horses can sense what Z wants to convey to them. Telling them that life is like a race. You may go long or short in life and move on or stop for a while for respite. You can keep on going as long as you breathe. Life only stops when you turn your back on the race. But even if you get stuck in the middle of the race, try to reach the finish line even when you have to end up limping or crawling. Winning is not all about getting or finishing "first" in every race. It is the will to meet what's waiting at the end of the line.
Don't worry about landing fifth or tenth, or worst being the last! There are many other races to win. And even when you always finish second or third in the coming races, what's more important is you surpass all the challenges.
Not all horses and not everybody in this world had a run of ten thousand or more in a lifetime. Not one person accomplishes all in almost everything. A lifetime lived with honesty, fair play and strong will to go on is already a legacy. From the very moment you were born, you are already a winner!
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